Multiple-coin controlled coin slide



Jan. 2, 1968 M. A. HALL 3,361,241

MULTIPLE-COIN CONTROLLED COIN SLIDE Filed Aug. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I02 C B 90 82 74 INVENTOR. MITCHELL A. HALL f ATTOEN.

Jan. 2, 1968 M. A. HALL 3,361,241

MULTIPLECOIN CONTROLLED COIN SLIDE Filed Aug. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-7 v /08 INVENTOR. LL A. HALL AT ORN EV United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE The reciprocable coin slide is constructed to accommodate in a single coin-receptive aperture, a plurality of coins stacked flatwise upon one another, and to advance the coins while stacked, to a calipering means which calipers the diameter of each coin while the coins remain in stacked relationship. The stacked coins mentioned may be of one size or denomination, or they may be of different sizes or denominations. Coins or slugs of improper sizes or denominations, or the absence of a coin from the stack, results in rejection of all coins or slugs advanced by the reciprocable slide.

This invention relates to a multiple-coin controlled slide, such as may be used in connection with vending machines or service machines, to initiate the vending of a product or the performance of a service whenever proper coins or tokens are deposited in the slide. For convenience of description and explanation, coins rather than tokens will be referred to herein, with the understanding that the slide may readily be adapted for the reception of proper tokens differently dimensioned to represent different money values. The operation of the device will be the same, whether coins or tokens are used in operating the device. Accordingly, the term coin is to be regarded as synonymous with the term token, throughout the specification and claims.

As in many current forms of coin-controlled slides or actuators, there is provided a slide having a handle for reciprocating the slide between a fully retracted or inoperative position, and a fully advanced or operative position. The slide has one or more coin-receptive apertures to receive coins when the slide is retracted, and may advance the coins toward the operative position of the slide. Various mechanisms may be incorporated in the device, to test the coins before the slide may be fully advanced to the operative position. If one or more of the coins is spurious, or of improper denomination, the testing mechanisms will reject them and act to preclude full advancement of the slide to the operative position. Likewise, the absence of a coin in the slide will preclude full advancement thereof, and so prevent the delivery of a product or service.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for preventing delivery of a product or service by a vending machine, when the coin slide is fed spurious coins, coins insuflicient in number, or coins of improper denominations.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for the deposit and proper testing of more than one coin in a single coin-receptive aperture of the coin slide, even though the deposited coins may be of different sizes and denominations. This achieves the advantages of most accurately pricing the product or the service dispensed, and of keeping the coin-controlled device very simple and compact in construction, such advantages being considered further objects of the present invention.

Another object is to provide means of a simple, compact, and inexpensive nature for testing, and passing or rejecting, coins resting flatwise one upon another in the same coin-receptive aperture of a coin slide, whether the coins be identical one to the other, or different from one another as to diameter or thickness.

3,351,241 Fatented Jan. 2, H568 A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive yet accurate means, for calipering a plurality of flatly superposed coins advanced within a single coin slide aperture.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a coincontrolled slide apparatus embodying the improvements of the present invention, certain coin testing elements not pertinent to the invention being omitted.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the base plate illustrated by FIG. 1, and showing two coins in position to enter the calipering zone, whereas three coins are required as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the required three coins of proper kind undergoing calipering.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line S5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, embodying a slight modification of structure which enables the device to caliper two proper coins of different diametral dimensions, said coins being stacked fiatwise in one coin aperture of the slide.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a portion of a base plate, carrying an alternative form of calipering means distinguishable from that of FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the FIG. 7 structure, and showing two coins approaching calipering position, these being rejectable because the structure shown is designed for operation with three coins.

FIG. 9 is a View similar to FIG. 8, showing the deficient coins of FIG. 8 advanced to calipering position, but in a state of rejection due to the absence of one of the three coins required for operating the device.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the structure of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, calipering and passing three proper coins, two of which are stacked in a single slide aperture.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing a slight structural modification which enables proper calipering of two stacked coins of different diameters.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a calipering arm assembly, forming a detail of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a slide interceptor controlled by a calipering arm.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 20 denotes a coin slide which rests flatwise upon a base plate 22, the slide being reciprocable lengthwise upon the base plate by means of handle 24. The slide has formed therein at least one, and preferably two, coin receptive apertures 26 and 28 which are exposed for receiving coins when the slide is fully retracted to the right, relative to base plate 22. A mounting bracket 3i), shown in broken lines, is adapted to fixedly support the base plate in conventional manner upon one wall of a cabinet which houses a vending or service machine controlled by the coin slide device.

As previously mentioned herein, the slide 20 is reciprocable between an initial retracted position and a fully advanced or operative position, whenever proper coins r are deposited in the coin receptive apertures 26 and 28.

In the fully advanced position of the slide, its forward end 32 or some other portion thereof, will strike or depress a starter which places in operation a vending machine or service machine. Full advancement of the slide is dependent upon the deposit of a proper kind and number of coins within apertures 26 and 28. If the coins do not meet the requirements of the coin slide, full d: advancement of the slide will be unattainable, as will be explained.

In the several drawing views, proper or acceptable coins are indicated by the reference characters A, B and C. In some of the drawing views, only two of the three needed coins are in place relative to the slide apertures, creating a condition that renders the slide inoperative.

Some of the mechanism illustrated upon FIG. 1 may be considered conventional equipment, with which the present invention is not concerned. This applies especially to the elements or parts 34, 34, 36, 36, 38, 38. Parts 34, 34 are spring actuated fingers independently urged downwardly, to enter the coin apertures 26 and 28 when no coins are inserted therein, for limiting the slide advancement. Parts 36, 36 are reversible pawls mounted upon a shaft 4a, to engage rack teeth 38, 33 of the slide, said pawls operating to preclude repeated short reciprocations of the slide near its position of full advancement, in any attempt to repeatedly actuate the vending machine starter with only one charge of coins deposited in the slide aperture. The apparatus will usually include various other known devices, not shown, designed to thwart free play or cheating, and to eilect the rejection of spurious coins or slugs.

Elements pertinent to the present invention, are the retractable stops or latches 42; and 44, and means associated therewith to retract the latches so as to permit slide advancement, provided that the proper kind and number of coins are deposited in the slide apertures 26 and 28.

Normally, the latches 4-2. and 44 are spring-urged upwardly, as in FIG. 1, to bear against the lower face of slide 20. The lower face of the slide keeps the latches depressed or retracted, until partial advancement of the slide brings an opening 46 thereof into registry with the latches 4-2 and 44. The latches thereupon may dip into opening 46, under the influence of small springs 47 acting upon the latches, thereby causing the abutment edges 48 of the latches to engage the abutment edge of slide opening 46, this resulting in locking the slide against further advancement. Either or both of the latches 42, 44 may thusly perform to lock the slide against further advancement.

On the other hand, stops or latches 42 and 44 may be held in restraint so as to avoid entering the slide opening 46 when the slide is advanced, thereby to permit a full advancement of the slide. This condition will obtain whenever the required number and kind of coins are present in both coin apertures and 28. To satisfy the coin requirement of only one slide aperture, will result in locking of the slide by one of the latches.

The latches may pivot upon a pintle 52, FIG. 13, which is fixedly supported upon base plate 22. Springs 47 may be anchored upon the base plate, and arranged to constantly urge the latches pivotally toward the under face of slide 20, that is, toward the position of H6. 1. However, the slide when flatly superposed upon base plate 22, normally depresses the latches 42, 44 into the mean plane of the base plate, except when opening at; registers with the latches as previously mentioned. The latches may pivot within a rectangular opening 5 provided near the rear end of the base plate, as shown in H6. 1.

Latches 42. and 44 are subject to displacement into the mean plane of base plate 22, by the action of a pair of caliper arms 56 and 53 each of which has a head 60, FIG. 12, rockable upon a common pivot stud 62. It should be understood that stud 62 is fixed upon, or relative to, base plate 22, with the stud disposed perpendicularly to said plate. integral lugs 64 on the heads 60 are spanned by a light tension spring 66, which yieldingly tends to rotate the arms 56 and 58 upon stud 62, with the free ends of the arms approaching each other (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 12).

The free ends of arms 5d and S8 reach the latches 52 and 4d, and each may have a camming relationship with one of the latches as suggested by FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the latch ad is seen to include a cam face or incline 68, to be swept by the free end portion of arm 58. A sweep of arm 58 to the left, or in the direction of the arrow, FIG. 13, serves to tilt the latch in clockwise direction about pivot pin 52. Latch 42 of FIG. 12 has a similar cam face or incline '7il, to be swept by arm 56 for similarly tilting the latch 42.. The arrangement is such, that sweeping movements of arms 56 and 58 away from one another, in FIG. 12, effects the tilting of both latches 42 and 44 in a common direction about their common pivot pin 52. This tilting of the latches may displace them from the inclined position of FIG. 1, to a retracted position at which the upper faces of the latches are flush with the upper face of base plate 22. Such displacement of the latches 42 and 44 by the action of arms 56 and 5h, prevents the latches from dipping into the slide aperture 46 as the slide is advanced, and consequently, the latches will not interfere with full advancement of the slide to operative position.

FIG. 2 shows, in broken lines, the arm 58 after it has swept across the cam face 68 of latch 44, to tilt and depress said latch 44 to flush position with respect to base plate 22. Latch dd accordingly will be disabled in its slidestopping function. The other latch 42, however, remains effective for stopping advancement of slide 20, because arm 56 according to FIG. 2, has not moved to sweep the cam face it) of latch 42. From the foregoing, it will be understood that full slide advancement will not be attainable unless both latches 42 and 44 are sufficiently retracted, by movement of arms 56 and 58, to prevent their dipping into the slide opening 46.

The sweep movements of arms 56 and 58 are initiated and determined by the advancement of coins A, B and C, resulting from projection of slide 28 towand the operative position. The coins advanced by the slide must pass a calipering test, in order to produce arm movements suflicient in extent to completely retract latches 42 and 44 from the path of slide opening 46. Failure of any coin to pass the test, or the absence of a coin from slide 20, will result in a blocking of slide advancement by one or the other of the stops or latches 42, 4-4.

The coin calipering means for coin A, FIG. 2, requires a rail 72 along which an edge of the coin may travel as the slide advances the coin to the left. The coin A shown in full lines in FIG. 2, is about to strike the calipering head 74 of a gauge element 76 which is pivoted at '78 upon the base plate 22. Head 74 is provided with a concave gauging face 80 (FIG. 3), to embrace the coin edge as the coin advances to the broken line position in FIG. 2.

The coin backed up by rail 72, moves the calipering head 7% against a perpendicular lug or abutment 82 which is an integral part of arm 58, thereby enforcing movement of arm 58 to the broken line position of FIG. 2. In so moving, the arm sweeps cam 68 as previously explained, for disabling the latch 4 as an interceptor of slide Zll.

The shape of concavity 30 (FIG. 3), is such that a spurious coin thinner or smaller in diameter than acceptable coin A, will fail to produce a full sweep of lug 82 and arm 58, with the result that latch 44 may remain extended, at least partially, within the path of slide opening 4-6, to lock the slide against full advancement. The same result occurs if advancement of slide 20 is attempted without deposit of a coin in slide aperture 28. Coins or slugs that are oversize as to diameter or thickness, may be rejected by action of other means usually incorporated in the structure, but not necessarily disclosed herein.

A radically different calipering arrangement may be provided ifor the testing of coins B and C, due to the fact that these coins are superposed one upon the other when deposited in the slide aperture 26. The addderd thickness resulting from superpositioning of coins B and C, neces sitates deepening of the surface 84, FIG. 1, so that the uppermost coin B will be flush with the upper face of slide 20. The pusher 86 at slide aperture 26, acts to advance both coins B and C along surface 84 of base plate 22, as the slide undergoes advancement. This condition is illustrated by FIG. 4, wherein coin B overlie-s coin C.

If coins B and C are identical, both will ride against the rail 88 of base plate 22, according to FIG. and FIG. 4, during advancement of slide 20. Upon reaching the calipering zone (FIG. 4), coins B and C will strike and displace the head 90 of a calipering element 92, which calipering element includes a depending shank 94 that very loosely is supported within an aperture 96 of base plate 22. Aperture 96 is large enough to permit angular tilting (FIG. 3), as well as rotation, of the calipering element shank 94.

The head 90 of calipering element 92 may be formed to provide two spaced parallel fingers 98 and 1%, both of equal reach, preferably, so that each may contact the edge of a coin according to FIG. 5. The back of head 9%, under such condition, may bear against the perpendicular lug or abutment 192 which is integral with arm 56, and serves to move said arm 56 with a sweeping action across the inclined cam face 70 of latch 42, for displacing said latch out of the path of slide opening 46, as previously explained.

Comparing FIG. 3 with FIG. 5, it will be noted that calipering element 92 when contacted by only one coin (FIG. 3), assumes a condition of instability and may tilt when depressed by coin C. This instability makes it impossible for the calipering element to transmit force from coin C to lug 102, and consequently, lug 102 will impart no sweep movement to arm 56 for displacing latch 42 from the path of slide opening 46. Accordingly, latch 42 will stop the slide by entering slide opening 46 due to the instability of calipering element 92.

The condition depicted by FIG. 3 will result, (1) if coin C is acceptable but is accompanied by no superposed coin; or (2), if coin C is acceptable but supports thereon a coin of insufficient diameter; or (3), if a coin superposed upon coin C is unduly thin; or (4), if coin C is unduly thin and supports a proper or an improper coin; or (5), if coin C is acceptable but rests upon a coin of insufilcient diameter; or (6), if no coin is brought to the calipering element 92 by slide 20. Under all of the conditions above mentioned, the calipering element 92 will lack the stability, necessary to impart movement to lug 102 and its associated arm 56, and therefore, latch or stop 42 will remain tilted as in FIG. 1 to stop the slide by entering the slide opening 46.

FIG. 6 illustrates how calipering element 92 may be stabilized and rendered operative when one proper coin C is of lesser diameter than the proper superposed coin B. Here, the track or rail 88 is provided with an extension 104 to back up the lesser coin C, and cause it to impinge against finger liltl with a force equal to the force of contact between the uppermost coin B and finger 98 of the calipering element. Thus, the coins in FIG. 6 may be of unequal value, yet eflFective to free the coin slide 20 for full advancement past the stop 42.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the apparatus can be very simply adapted for acceptance of proper coins of various denominations, so that the sum of the coin values may be very accurately related to the value of an article of service to be dispensed. By way of example, in FIG. 6 the coin B may be a quarter; coin C may be a dime, a peny, or a nickel; and coin A may be any one of these. By way of further example, coin B may be a nickel; coin C may be a dime or a penny; and coin A may be of any denomination.

As to FIG. 5, coins B and C may be of any denomination, and coin A may be of the same or a diiferent denomination.

As a further example, calipering element 76 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6), may be replaced by a calipering element such as 92, so that the single slide 20 may convey four, rather than three coins, to and through the calipering zone of the apparatus. Such arrangement still further enhances the flexibility of the apparatus in relating the coin values to the value of an article or service to be dispensed.

FIGS. '7 to 11 inclusive, illustrates at 1% an alternative form of calipering element, having some of the characteristics of element 92. Element 196 may comprise a metallic body, having a socket 108 loosely receptive of lug 162 on caliper arm 5%. As FIG. 8 indicates, the calipering element tilt may tilt upon lug 1&2, or it may assume the stabilized position of FIG. 10. When stabilized by two acceptable coins B and C, as in FIG. 10, the calipering element 166 is capable of exerting the necessary force upon lug M2 to swing arm 56 away from arm 58. This swinging movement of arm 5:? causes said arm to sweep the cam face 70 of latch 42 (FIG. 12), which as previously explained, effects displacement of the latch 42 from the path of slide opening 46, FIG. 1, thereby to permit a full advancement of the slide.

A single coin C, (FIG. 9), advanced to the calipering element 1% by slide Ztl, will not displace the calipering element sufficiently away from rail $8 to effect movement of arm 5'6, as will become manifest in the light of the following explanation.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 exemplify a structure designed to accept three quarters, or seventy-five cents, for dispensing an article or a service. In FIG. 8, only two quarters A and C have been deposited in the slide, and these are shown about to enter the calipering zone. Note that ca pering element 106 is tilted by coin C, and is effective to move the caliper arm 56. In FIG. 9, the coins A and C have been slightly farther advanced, into calipering position, but since the requisite third coin atop coin C is missing, the calipering element 1% remains somewhat tilted and therefore unstabilized, leaving the caliper arm 55 unmoved. FIG. 10 differs from FIGS. 8 and 9, in that it shows three proper coins A, B and C advanced to a calipering position, with the result that arm St; is moved for sweeping the cam face it! of latch 42, to displace said latch from slide-intercepting position. Since in FIG. 10 the coin A has acted through calipering element 7 6 to displace also the other latch 44, the slide is free to advance to fully extended position.

As previously noted, the socket N8 of calipering element 106 is loosely receptive of lug 10 2, so that element 1% may assume rotated positions about lug 102, Within limits suggested by FIGS. 3 and 10. Extending divergently from socket we are two gauge fingers, lit and 112, each in a different horizontal plane, to contact the peripheries of coins B and C, respectively (FIG. 10). At a distance from finger Mil, and in the plane thereof, is located a heel 114 where the metal of the calipering element is cut away or removed in forming the offset finger 11-2. Similarly, a second heel 116 at the opposite face of the calipering element, establishes the location at which said opposite face is cut away in forming the finger 1'10. Thus, according to FIG. 7, the gauge fingers and 112 are located in different planes, and are joined at their bases by an intermediate portion 118 of the calipering element body. Said intermediate portion M3 is disposed distant from an imaginary line which spans the tips of fingers 110 and 112, so that portion 118 will not contact the peripheries of proper coins abutting the fingers as in FIG. 10'.

The device of FlGS. 7 through 10 operates as follows. Assume first that only two acceptable coins A and C are inserted in the coin-receptive apertures 26 and 28 of the slide in FIG. 1. An initial partial advancement of the slide will bring the two coins to the FIG. 8 position, at which the coins begin to enter the calipering zone. Coin A will climb onto the head 74 or" calipering element '76, and coin C will strike the finger E12 of calipering element ltld. Element 16 6 will be tilted in counter-clockwise direction upon lug 162. as shown, causing finger 119 to overlie a face of coin C.

Now if the slide further advances the coins to the calipering position of FIG. 9, coin A being an acceptable coin, will actuate the parts 76 and 82- to swing the arm 58 and thereby depress stop or latch 4-4 to slidercleasing position. However, the other stop or latch 42 will not be so depressed, due to inability of the single coin C to project calipering element 1% against lug H22, in view of lack of support for gauge finger 11th. Gauge finger 1110 requires the support of a coin such as B in FIG. 10, in order to stabilize element 1% against lug 1M and thereby move said lug and its associated arm 56 which controls the latch 42. Accordingly, latch 42 will preclude a full slide advancement under the conditions depicted by FIG. 9, wherein only a single coin is present at C.

A proper set of conditions favorable to full slide advancement is depicted by FIG. 10. Here, acceptable coins are present at A, B and C, coin B being superposed upon coin C. In this situation, the periphery of coin C supports finger 112, and the periphery of coin B supports finger Ill), of the calipering element 1%. With such support, the calipering element 1% enjoys a maximum degree of projection against lug 192, this resulting in swinging the arm 5'6 to sweep the cam face 7! of latch 42 and thereby displace latch 42 from slide-intercepting position. Latch 44 also will be so displaced to free the slide, due to swinging of the arm 5% through the action of parts 82 and '76 initiated by acceptable coin A. The slide accordingly is conditioned for full advancement to actuate a dispensing mechanism associated therewith.

Should any one of the coins be substandard as to diameter, one or the other of the calipering elements '76 or 166 will be deprived of the necessary operating movement required to displace the latches 42, id and thereby free the slide for full advancement.

FIG. 11 indicates an arrangement whereby the apparatus may be adapted for operation with the use of coins of diiierent sizes and denominations. Here, coin C is smaller in diameter than coin B, but coin C is rendered effective to properly support the gauge finger 112 by incorporating in the base plate a stationary rail we to back up the coin C as its moves through the calipering zone. By means of this arrangement, coin C as well as coin B will serve to impart the necessary maximum projection of calipering element 1% against lug 102, to ensure the necessary sweep movement of arm 5s required for displacement of latch In FIG. 11, coins B and C may be any two coins of different denominations, and coin A may be a quarter, nickel, dime or penny. Accordingly, the sum of the values of the coins to be accommodated by the apparatus may be very closely related to the value of an article or service to be dispensed. If greater flexibility is desired in this connection, the type of calipering element indicated at 76 may be replaced by one of the type indicated at 186, in which event four coins rather than three may be accommodated.

Whenever a slide aperture 26 or 28 is to accommodate more than one coin, and one coin is larger than the other, the slide aperture should be sized to the larger coin. Depending upon the nature of the service required, the slide of the coin controlled apparatus may be provided with any number of coin-receptive apertures and a correspondin number of calipering units.

lit is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

ll. A multiple-coin controlled device comprising in combination: an elongate base plate; an elongate coin slide mounted for reciprocation upon the base plate between a fully retracted position and a position of full advancement, said coin slide being apertured to receive a plurality of coins movable by the slide relative to the base plate, with the coins stacked fiatwise upon one another; means independent of the coin slide aperture for calipering the diameter of the coins while stacked, to test their acceptability as said coins are advanced by the coin slide; coin guiding means for guiding the coins into testing relationship with the calipering means; disengageable latch means operative when engaged, to latch the coin slide against full advancement; and means responsive to a favorable test of the coins by said calipering means, to disengage the latch means and thereby free the slide for full advancement.

2. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the coin guiding means separately support the stacked coins edgewise, with the centers of said coins disposed at different distances from the calipering means.

3. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein is included means to compensate for coin diameter differentials while the coins undergo calipering.

3. A multiple-coin controlled device comprising in combination: an elongate base plate; an elongate coin slide mounted for reciprocation upon the base plate between a fully retracted position and a position of full advancement, said coin slide being apertured to receive a plurality of coins movable by the slide lengthwise of the base plate; an abutment on the slide; a latch on the base plate movable between an operative position of engagement with the slide abutment, and an inoperative position of displacement from the path of travel of said abutment, said abutment being located upon the slide in position to engage the latch prior to full advancementof the slide; a calipering element shiftably mounted upon the base plate in position to be struck and moved by each of two acceptable coins advanced by the slide, with the coins superposed flatwise one upon the other; coin guiding means on the base plate guiding the coins into peripheral abutment of the coins against the shiftable calipering element; and means responsive to shifting of the calipering element by said coins, for displacing the latch to the inoperative position, at which inoperative position of the latch the coin slide is free to reach full advancement.

5. The device as specified by claim 4, wherein the coin guiding means includes separate coin-support tracks, one of which tracks is spaced a lesser distance from the coin calipering element than is the other track.

6. The device as specified by claim 4, wherein the means last mentioned comprises an elongate calipering arm pivotally mounted upon the base plate, said arm having a free end subject to sweeping movement as the arm rocks upon said pivotal mounting, and a fixed abutment on the arm in position to be struck and movedby the calipering element; a pair of extending fingers on the calipering element, said fingers being disposed in diderent planes for abutment of each finger upon'a periphery of each of the superposed coins; the mounting of the calipering element upon the base plate being a loose mounting such that contact of only one coin with but one finger of the calipering element, tilts the calipering element within the loose mounting rather than project the calipering element against the fixed abutment of the arm; the latchhaving a cam face to be swept by the free end of the calipering arm for displacement of said latch to the inoperative position upon rocking of said arm in one direction about its pivotal mounting.

7. The device as specified by claimfi, wherein the coin guiding means includes separate tracks, one of which tracks is spaced a lesser distance from the coin calipering element than is the other track.

3. The device as specified by claim 4, wherein the means last mentioned comprises an elongate calipering arm pivoted relative to the base plate, said arm havin a free end movable as the arm rocks upon its pivot aforesaid, and a fixed abutment on the arm in position to be moved by the calipering element; a pair of extending spaced fingers on the calipering element, said fingers being disposed in different planes for abutment of each finger upon a periphery of each of the superposed coins; the pivotal mounting for the calipering elementbeing a loose mounting such that contact of only one coin with but one finger of the calipering element, tilts the calipering element within the loose mounting rather than project the calipering element against the fixed abutment of the arm; the latch having a connection with the free end of the calipering arm enforcing displacement of said latch to the inoperative position upon rocking of said arm in one direction about the arm pivot.

9. The device as specified by claim 8, wherein the coin guiding means supports the coins separately, with the center of the superposed coins disposed at different distances from the calipering element fingers which the coins respectively abut.

10. The device as specified by claim 4, wherein the coin guiding means separately support the superposed coins, with the centers of said coins disposed at different distances from the calipering element fingers which the coins respectively abut.

11. A multiple-coin controlled device comprising in combination: an elongate base plate; an elongate coin slide mounted for reciprocation upon the base plate between a fully retracted position and a position of full advancement, said coin slide being apertured to receive a plurality of stacked coins movable by the slide lengthwise of the base plate; an abutment on the slide; a latch on the base plate movable between an operative position of engagement with the slide abutment, and an inoperative position of displacement from the path of travel of said slide abutment, said abutment being located upon the slide in position to engage the latch prior to full advancement of the slide; a calipering element to be struck and moved by each of two acceptable coins advanced by the slide while the coins remain stacked flatwise one upon the other; coin guiding means on the base plate guiding the coins itno peripheral contact against the calipering element; and means responsive to shifting of the calipering element by said coins, for displacing the latch to the inoperative position, thereby releasing the coin slide for advancement.

12. The device as specified by claim 11, wherein the coin guiding means separately support the stacked coins edgewise, with the centers of said coins disposed at diiferent distances from the calipering element.

13. The device as specified by claim 11, wherein the means last mentioned comprises an elongate caliper arm pivoted relative to the base plate, said arm having a free end movable as the arm rocks upon its pivot aforesaid, and a fixed lug on the arm in position to be moved by the calipering element; a pair of extending spaced fingers on the calipering element, said fingers being disposed in different planes for contact of each finger upon a periphery of each of the stacked coins; an enlarged socket means on the calipering element receptive of the fixed lug on the caliper arm, and providing a loose connection such that contact of only one coin with but one finger of the calipering element, tilts the calipering element within the loose connection rather than project the calipering element against the fixed lug of the arm; the latch having a connection with the free end of the caliper arm enforcing displacement of said latch to the inoperative position upon rocking of said arm in one direction about the arm pivot.

14. The device as specified by claim 13, wherein the coin guiding means separately support the stacked coins, with the centers of said coins disposed at different distances from the calipering element fingers which the coins respectively abut.

15. The device as specified by claim 11, wherein the means last mentioned comprises an elongated caliper arm pivoted relative to the base plate, said arm having a free end movable as the arm rocks upon its pivot aforesaid; a pair of extending spaced fingers on the calipering element, said fingers being disposed in different planes for contact of each finger upon a periphery of each of the stacked coins; cooperative means on the calipering element and on a portion of the caliper arm spaced from the caliper arm pivot, providing a loose connection such that contact of only one coin with but one finger of the calipering element, tilts the calipering element rather than project it to move the caliper arm; the latch aforesaid having a connection with the free end of the caliper arm enforcing displacement of said latch to the inoperative position upon rocking of said arm in one direction about the arm pivot.

16. The device as specified by claim 15, wherein the coin guiding means separately support the stacked coins edgewise, with the centers of said coins disposed at different distances from the calipering element fingers which the coins respectively abut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,470,234 10/1923 Grover.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

